Symbolism in the Raven by Edgar Allan Poe
Edgar Allan Poe has used symbolism in the poem The Raven to create meaning in his art. More significantly, through symbolism, he has created an impact accomplished through the sense of purpose created. Poe has used the Raven as one example of symbolism in the poem. The ebony birds symbolize loneliness and separation. In essence, symbolism has played an integral role in Poe’s work.
Poe has used the raven as one of the major acts of symbolism in his work. For instance, in the poem, the narrator has used the raven to represent evil and death. In the last stanza, line three, the poet has said, “And his eyes have all the seeming of a demon’s that is dreaming.” At this point, the true meaning of the raven is exposed. The raven has also been used to symbolize the narrator’s grief and the wisdom that he gains from the exchange of the actions. Therefore, the narrator uses the raven to add meaning and make the poem appealing to the reader.
Lenore has also been used as a way of symbolism in the poem. For instance, the narrator tells us severally that she is “rare and radiant.” Also, through the description given, Lenore has been used to symbolize heaven because of the narrator’s angelic description. As such, the use of Lenore creates hat good imagery in the mind of the reader.
Night’s Plutonian Shore is also another significant symbol in the poem. Throughout the poem, the narrator has explained how darkness is a sign of danger and how it is feared. For example, in stanza seventeen, stanza two, he says, “Get thee back into the tempest and the Night’s Plutonian shore!” to explain the night’s shock and fear. Hence, symbolism is the primary linguistic style that Poe uses to create an appealing understanding to the audience.
Works cited
Poe, Edgar Allan, and W. Heath Robinson. The Poems Of Edgar Allan Poe.
“The Raven By Edgar Allan Poe | Poetry Foundation”. Poetry Foundation, 2020, https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/48860/the-raven.